We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 23 & 24 feature conversations with Sandra Sirota, EdD. Sandra Sirota, EdD is Assistant Professor in Residence in Human Rights and Experiential Global Learning and Director of Dodd Impact’s program, Human Rights Close to Home (HRCH), at the University of Connecticut. Her work explores human rights and social justice education in the United States and South Africa. Her current research focuses on how students and teachers conceptualize and actualize human rights in conjunction with HRCH. Sandra’s recent articles have appeared in Comparative Education Review and the International Journal of Human Rights Education. She co-chairs the University and College Consortium for Human Rights Education. Sandra earned her doctorate from Columbia University.
Episode 23: Sandra Sirota, Part One
In Episode 23, Sandra Sirota shares her early interest in human rights and human rights education, her work with Human Rights Watch, the creation of the Advocacy Lab, and the Connections Project at Cornell University. Next, she discusses the Human Rights Close to Home Program, the importance of civic engagement for students, and the challenges of implementing human rights education (HRE) in schools. Furthermore, Sandra elaborates on Tibbitts’ three models of HRE, the importance of diverse approaches to HRE in varied communities, and research with the Social Justice Project in New London, Connecticut schools. Sandra then explains the challenges and strategies for educating pre-service and veteran teachers about HRE, resistance to HRE implementation in schools, and approaches to civic engagement with HRE. Lastly, Sandra highlights the importance of intergenerational collaborations, and the significance of peer support that strengthens solidarity among students.
Topics discussed:
- Early interest in human rights and human rights education (HRE)
- Human Rights Watch
- Advocacy Lab
- Connections Project at Cornell University
- Human Rights Close to Home Program
- Importance of civic engagement
- Challenges to implementing HRE in schools
- Tibbitts’ three models of HRE
- Importance of diverse approaches to HRE
- Research with the Social Justice Project
- Challenges and strategies for educating pre-service & veteran teachers
- Importance of intergenerational collaborations
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Episode 24: Sandra Sirota, Part Two
In Episode 24, Sandra Sirota describes the influence of Paulo Freire’s work, the significance of structured dialogue in social justice pedagogy, and the role of emotions in the classroom. Next, she discusses the changing public human rights discourse in the USA; the power of human rights language; and using tools from peace, anti-racist, and social justice education. She then shares her thoughts on using human rights education (HRE) to advance the rights of children, and how expanding HRE into new places has the potential to impact cultural values and laws by changing patterns of thinking, and how young people educated in HRE can act as change agents. Sandra elaborates on her concerns over rising authoritarianism and the importance of using global HRE during these times as well as increasing opportunities for teacher and teacher educator training in HRE. Lastly, Sandra highlights the ways Dr. S. Garnett Russell and Jane Goodall have been influential role models for her work in HRE, and one critical change which she views would advance HRE in the US.
Topics discussed:
- Influential work of Paulo Freire
- Dialogue in social justice pedagogy
- Role of emotions in the classroom
- Changing public discourse around HRE in the USA
- Power of human rights language
- Using tools from peace, anti-racists, and social justice education
- Human rights education as a way to advance childrens’ rights
- Potential of HRE to impact cultural values, laws, patterns of thinking
- Young people in HRE as change agents
- Rising authoritarianism and importance of global HRE
- Teacher training and HRE
- Dr. Garnett Russell and Jane Goodall as influential role models
- One idea for critical change to advance HRE in the U.S.
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
hreusa.org 